Tibet talks only a beginning, onus on Dalai Lama: China

DPA Beijing, May 6 (DPA) China Tuesday said talks on Tibet with envoys of the Dalai Lama were “only a beginning” and urged the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader to show more “sincerity.” “I want to stress that the current contact is only a beginning,” foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said when asked about weekend talks between Chinese officials and two envoys of the Dalai Lama.

“As long as the Dalai side shows sincerity, especially in its actions, then the contact will continue,” Qin told reporters.

Qin did not explain what China wanted the Dalai Lama to do to show sincerity.

The government continues to accuse him of pursuing independence for Tibet, despite his frequent public renouncement of independence in favour of maximum autonomy for Tibetans within China.

The talks in China’s southern city of Shenzhen were the first meeting between the two sides in nearly a year.

They followed international pressure on China to reopen dialogue after Beijing’s crackdown on Tibetan protesters, which has marred its preparations for the Olympics.

The Chinese government has engaged in six rounds of dialogue with representatives of the Dalai Lama since 2002, but no progress has been reported. The previous round was held in June. DPA